KFC China boosts Yum Brands' established restaurants sales | Reuters

Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), which is spinning off its China business, reported sales at established restaurants rose more than expected in the fourth quarter, helped by strong sales at KFC China.

Yum's global sales at established restaurants open for more than a year jumped 6 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 26. Sales at established restaurants in China rose 7 percent, with KFC China's same-store sales increasing 6 percent.

Analysts on average were expecting Yum's global sales at established restaurants to rise 1.80 percent and sales in Chine to increase 1.9 percent, according to research firm Consensus Metrix.

Yum had said in October it plans to spin off its dominant China business, which has been besieged by food scandals and marketing missteps, amid pressure from an activist shareholder who recently joined its board of directors.